Quick Take
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Pakistan Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif is open to neutral investigations into the recent Pahargam terrorist attacks that killed 26 amid accusations against Pakistan for carrying terrorists.
New Delhi:
Pakistan Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif said today that he is ready for a “neutral investigation” of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahargam.
The deadliest terrorist attacks since the destruction of Article 370 in 2019 have sparked a high level of diplomatic and security response from the government against Pakistan, which has been accused of having handlers and supporters of the terrorist group.
Attending the graduation ceremony at Kakul’s Pakistan Military Academy in Kybar Paktankwa, Prime Minister Sharif said his country is open to taking part in the “reliable” investigation.
“The recent tragedy in Pahargam is another example of this enduring denunciation game and we must break away. Continuing its role as a responsible country, Pakistan is open to taking part in neutral, transparent and reliable investigations,” Sharif said.
Resistance Front (TRF), representing Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar e Tayba, has argued responsibility for the Pahargam attack. Pakistan is often accused of funding by harboring terrorist groups engaged in cross-border invasions. According to intelligence sources, one of the main defendants in the attack, Adil Ahmed Talker, went to Pakistan, where he received military training from a terrorist group and infiltrated six years later with Pakistani terrorists.
“Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all forms and symptoms,” Sharif added. “The Pakistani army is fully capable and ready to defend the sovereignty of the country and the integrity of its territory against any unhappiness adventure.”
Sharif’s remarks come the day after Pakistan’s Defense Minister Kawaja Asif said in an interview with the New York Times that Pakistan is “ready to cooperate” with an investigation conducted by international inspectors.
Diplomatic Fallout
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was convened on Wednesday to decide India’s response to the April 23 attack in Pahargam. CCS has announced drastic actions against Pakistan. This accuss New Delhi of embracing and supporting cross-border terrorism.
At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the measure. The main one is downgrades of diplomatic missions in each country. Both the Indian and Pakistani committees will reduce the strength of their personnel from 55 to 30 to be completed by May 1st.
India has also expelled all defense, naval and aviation advisors of Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi. These individuals have been declared Persona Non-Grata and have been instructed to leave the country within a week. In response, India withdraws its military advisor from Islamabad’s high commissioner. Five support staff assigned to service advisors for both missions will also be recalled.
India has further suspended the SAARC visa exemption scheme for Pakistani citizens. Existing visas issued to Pakistani citizens under the programme were immediately cancelled.
The CCS also ordered the immediate closure of the integrated check post at Attari, the only functional land border crossing between India and Pakistan. Pakistani citizens who entered India via post with valid documents could return before the May 1 deadline, Misri added.
One of the most consequential decisions was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. Mithri said that Pakistan “rely depends on until it is able to abjure support for cross-border terrorism so unreliable.”
As tensions between the two countries remain high, Pakistani forces continue to engage in unprovoked firing along the Line of Control (LOC). On the second consecutive night, Pakistani forces fired in Indian positions along the LOC, and Indian forces responded in physical form. There have been no reports of victims on either side.
